How to Heal Your Soul

Make time for your passions.

Many of us have learned to replace our passions with duties and obligations. If you have neglected your passions in favor of your sense of duty, you may be starving your soul. Make time each day to do something you are passionate about or that brings you genuine pleasure.
If you don't know what your passions are, now is your time to start exploring the possibilities. The best way to figure out what brings you joy and meaning is by being curious.^{[1] X Research source} So, what are you curious about? What brings you delight? Pursue that fearlessly, whether it’s painting or writing or soccer.

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Turn inward and explore relaxation meditation.

Meditation is an effective way to quiet your mind and allow your soul to speak. Cultivate a daily meditation practice by setting aside time—whether it’s in the morning or afternoon or evening—to intentionally silence your thoughts and focus on your breath. Just 10 minutes of meditation every day has been proven to increase a person’s happiness and invigorate their soul.^{[2] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source}

There's no "right" way to meditate—all you need to do is quiet your mind and be one with the moment.^{[3] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source}

The 478 breathing technique is a form of meditation that's simple for beginners: simply take a deep breath in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold it for 7 seconds, and breathe out through your mouth for 8 seconds, staying focused on your breath the whole time.

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Dive deep into your feelings.

Journal about any emotions that have been bottled up inside you. What lies beneath your feelings is your creativity, passions, intuition, and imagination. It can be painful to feel and accept uncomfortable emotions like anger, hurt, disappointment, and fear. But when you do, you'll create a more harmonious space for your soul to dwell.

Journaling isn't the only way to connect with your emotions: artmaking in general is a wonderful way to dive deep into your own heart. Consider dedicating a few hours to painting, making music, or writing poetry and see what emotions flow from you. You may find the process cathartic and healing.

You shouldn't have to carry around heavy, negative feelings day in and day out. Give yourself permission to release them, because you deserve to feel at peace.

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4

Practice kindness.

Ask yourself every morning; "What can I do today to help someone?" "How can I serve?" "Who could I call to lift their spirits?" When you give out of service and unconditional love, you feed and heal your soul. Being kind, loving, and supportive of others is its own reward.

Look into opportunities in your area to get involved and help out. Maybe there are volunteer organizations you can get involved in that align with your passion or values, like shelters, churches, mutual aid programs, clinics, and more. Consider inviting a friend or 2 for companionship.

Be sure to take steps to attend to your soul as well: serving others can help mend your soul, but don’t use service as a distraction from your own healing.

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Get plenty of sleep.

If you're feeling depleted and soul-weary, the answer (or part of the answer) may lie in a good night's sleep. Not only will giving your body the rest it needs help you feel calmer, happier, and more at peace, but you may be able to process difficult emotions in your dreams, which can leave your soul feeling lighter.

Aim to get at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. If your body doesn't feel rested after 8 hours, it's possible you need 9 or 10 hours to feel truly energized.

Give yourself permission to move slow and take your time this week as your soul recuperates; it's worth it.

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Seek counseling.

And that's the way it's meant to be: none of us was meant to live and thrive in solitude, and we all need help sometimes. If you're finding you can't heal your soul on your own, it might be worth speaking to a therapist or a turning to a spiritual advisor for advice. They may be able to offer you wisdom and comfort that will lift your soul again.

If your soul is suffering from past hurt or trauma, you likely won't be able to just "undo" the pain through prayer, meditation, rest, and service: these may help to alleviate some of the symptoms of a broken soul, but some problems need to be treated at the root, and a therapist or spiritual counselor may be able to help.

Believe that you deserve to heal and to feel at peace again. Seeking support is perhaps the best thing you can do for yourself and your soul.

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Deepen your connection with the Divine.

Physical pain can hurt deeply, but spiritual pain is often worse, because there’s no doctor to “fix” your spiritual pain. If your soul feels weak or weary, draw closer to whatever Divine being you believe in. Spend time reigniting your spirituality by engaging in traditions that draw you closer to whoever or whatever energy or entity you call Divine.

Pray or read scripture, attend church, rely on crystals for their magical properties—whatever spiritual and religious traditions bring you closer to the Divine, make time for them today.

If you practice a certain religion, be sure it aligns with your spirituality. While religion is a means of sharing and practicing your beliefs with a group, spirituality refers to your personal sense of peace and purpose, and if your religious practices clash with your personal spirituality, this may cause your soul some anguish.^{[4] X Research source}

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